Nectarine tree named ‘Pearlicious III’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree,  Prunus persica,  broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in mid June, with first picking on Jun. 14, 2006. The fruit is uniformly large in size, sub-acidic and very sweet in flavor, globose in shape, freestone in type, very firm in texture, white in flesh color, and mostly red in skin color.

Botanical classification: Prunus persica.

Variety denomination: ‘PEARLICIOUS III’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, I, theinventor, typically hybridize a large number peach, nectarine, plum,apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present invention relatesto a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, which has beendenominated varietally as ‘PEARLICIOUS III’.

The present variety was hybridized by me in 2001 as a first generationcross using ‘Rose Diamond’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,421) nectarine as theselected seed parent and an unnamed white freestone nectarine as theselected pollen parent. I used embryo rescue techniques to germinate theseeds from the fruit of this cross, grew them as seedlings on their ownroot in my greenhouse, and upon reaching dormancy transplanted them to acultivated area of my experimental orchard located near Le Grand,Calif., in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley). During the fruitevaluation season of 2003 I selected the present variety as a singletree from the group of seedlings described above. Subsequent toorigination of the present variety of nectarine tree, I asexuallyreproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimental orcharddescribed above, and such reproduction of plant and fruitcharacteristics were true to the original plant in all respects. Thereproduction of the variety included the use of ‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented)rootstock upon which the present variety was compatible and true totype.

The present variety is similar to its selected seed parent, ‘RoseDiamond’ nectarine, by producing nectarines that are nearly globose inshape, firm in texture, and nearly full red in skin color, but isdistinguished therefrom by producing fruit that is larger in size, whiteinstead of yellow in flesh color, and that matures about ten days later.

The present variety is most similar to ‘Diamond Pearl’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 14,242) nectarine, by producing nectarines that are nearly globosein shape, very firm in texture, white in flesh color, and nearly fullred in skin color, but is distinguished therefrom by having globoseinstead of reniform glands, by having a sweet instead of bitter tastingkernel, and by producing nectarines that are freestone instead ofclingstone in type.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

In summary, the present variety is characterized by a large size,vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. Thefruit matures under the ecological conditions described in mid June,with first picking on Jun. 14, 2006. The fruit is uniformly large insize, sub-acidic and very sweet in flavor, globose in shape, freestonein type, very firm in texture, white in flesh color, and mostly red inskin color.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph consists of four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, one fruitdivided around the suture plane to reveal the flesh and stone, twoinsets to reveal buds and a blossom, and various leaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif. and was developed at thestate of firm ripe on Jun. 18, 2006, on the original tree during itsfifth growing season. All major color code designations are by referenceto the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau of Standards. Commoncolor names are also used occasionally.

Tree

-   Size: Large, reaching and maintaining a height of 11′ [3.35 m.] and    a spread of 10′ [3.05 m.] after five growing season utilizing    typical dormant pruning.-   Vigor: Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and    fertilization. The variety grows about 3′ [0.91 m.] of surplus    top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant should be grown    on a standard commercial rootstock for production purposes.-   Growth: Upright and dense.-   Form: Pruned to a central leader form.-   Hardiness: Hardy with respect to central California winters.-   Heat tolerance: Observed to perform adequately in typical central    California climatic conditions, which typically include extended    periods of heat.-   Drought tolerance: Variety is developed for commercial orchards and    requires regular irrigation.-   Production: Productive, thinning necessary.-   Fertility: Self-fertile.-   Bearing: Regular bearer with no alternate bearing yet observed.-   Approximate chilling requirement: 600 hours.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 4″ [102 mm.]            after the fifth growing season.        -   Texture.—Shaggy.        -   Bark color.—A Grayish brown [61. gy.Br] was Deep brown [56.            deep Br] variegation.        -   Lenticels.—Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 6. Color:            Dark orange yellow [72. d.OY]. Typical Size: 3/16″ [4.8 mm.]            to ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Shape: Eye-shaped to elongated.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Diameter of first lateral is 1⅜″ [35 mm.] measured 12″            from the central leader.        -   Texture.—Smooth on first and second year wood, increasing            roughness with age.        -   Color.—1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st            Year Wood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].            Older Wood: Deep yellowish brown [75. deep yBr].        -   Lenticels.—Number Per Square Inch: More than 60 on second            year wood. Color: Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr]. Typical            size: 1/64″ [0.4 mm.] to 3/32″ [2.4 mm.] on second year            wood. Shape: Elongated.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Large. Average Length: 6½″ [165 mm.]. Average Width:            1¾″ [44 mm.].        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Form.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Acute, with a base angle of 80 to 85 degrees.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Dorsal Surface: Deep yellow green [118. deep YG].            Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].        -   Margin.—Finely serrate.        -   Venation.—Pinnately net veined.        -   Vein color.—Light yellow green [119. l.YG].        -   Petiole.—Average Length: ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Average Thickness:            1/16″ [1.6 mm.]. Color: Strong yellow green [117. s.YG].        -   Stipules.—Number: Usually 2 per leaf, up to 6 per growing            tip. Average Length: ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. Color: Brilliant yellow            green [116. brill.YG] becoming Moderate reddish brown [43.            m.rBr] with maturity.        -   Glands.—Number: 2 to 5 per leaf. Position: Alternately            positioned on petiole and base of blade. Size: Medium. Form:            Globose. Color: Very yellow green [115. v.YG] becoming Dark            reddish brown [44. d.rBr] with age.        -   Leaf buds.—Pointed, medium in size.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Hardiness.—Hardy, with respect to central California            winters.        -   Diameter.—Typically ⅜″ [9.5 mm.] 1 week before bloom.        -   Length.—Typically 11/16″ [17.5 mm.] 1 week before bloom.        -   Form.—Not appressed.        -   Surface.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Light purplish pink [249. l.pPk].-   Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil,    typically thirty or more stamens, five sepal and petal locations    alternately positioned.    -   -   Type.—Showy, large.        -   Average flower diameter.—1⅞″ [47.6 mm.].        -   Number of petals.—Usually five, extra petal fragments and a            few double blossoms observed occasionally.        -   Petal shape.—Circular to oval.        -   Petal margin.—Somewhat wavy.        -   Average petal diameter.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].        -   Average petal length.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].        -   Petal apex.—Rounded.        -   Petal base.—Rounded to somewhat truncate.        -   Petal color.—Pale pink [7. p.Pk] toward the apex, Light pink            [4. l.Pk] toward the base.        -   Anther color.—Dark reddish orange [38. d.rO] over a Light            yellow [86.6 l.Y] center at bloom onset.        -   Stigma color.—Light greenish yellow [101. l.gY].        -   Sepal color.—Dark purplish red [259. d.pR].        -   Sepal length.—¼″ [6.4 mm.].        -   Sepal width.— 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].        -   Average pistil length.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].        -   Average stamen length.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].        -   Fragrance.—Moderate.        -   Blooming period.—medium, five days after ‘Rose Diamond’            (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,421) nectarine.        -   Onset of bloom.—One percent on Feb. 27, 2006.        -   Date of full bloom.—Mar. 9, 2006.        -   Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient            temperature.        -   Number per cluster.—1 to 3 with single flowers most common.

FRUIT

-   Maturity when described: Firm ripe, Jun. 18, 2006.-   Date of first picking: Jun. 14, 2006.-   Date of last picking: Jun. 24, 2006.-   Size: Uniform, large.    -   -   Average diameter axially.—3″ [76 mm.].        -   Average diameter across suture plane.—2⅞″ [73 mm.].        -   Average diameter across cheek plane.—2 15/16″ [75 mm.].        -   Typical weight.—7.8 ounces [221 grams].-   Form: Globose.    -   -   Longitudinal section form.—Elliptical to slightly obovate.        -   Axial view.—Round.-   Suture: A shallow groove extending from the base to beyond the apex,    sharper in the stem cavity and toward the apex.-   Ventral surface: Rounded slightly, lipped toward the apex.-   Lips: Fairly equal.-   Cavity: Flaring, circular, suture showing on one side, Pale Yellow    [89. p.Y] stem markings typical.    -   -   Depth.—¼″ [6.4 mm.].        -   Breadth.—⅞″ [22.2 mm.].-   Base: Truncate.-   Apex: Rounded.-   Pistil point: Apical, short, usually depressed within the suture.-   Stem: Medium.    -   -   Average length.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].        -   Average width.— 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].-   Skin:    -   -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.        -   Astringency.—Non-astringent.        -   Tendency to crack.—None observed.        -   Color.—Dark red [16. d.r] smoothly blending into a Moderate            red [15. m.R] background with heavy Yellowish white [92.            y.White] freckling toward the apex.-   Flesh:    -   -   Color.—White [263. White] from the skin to the stone with            the very slightest amount of Moderate red [15. m.R]            streaking very near the apex of the stone.        -   Surface of pit cavity.—Covered with Yellowish white [92.            y.White] fibers.        -   Amygdalin.—Moderate.        -   Juice.—Moderate, rich.        -   Texture.—Firm, crisp.        -   Fibers.—Abundant, fine.        -   Ripens.—Earlier at the apex.        -   Flavor.—Sub-acidic and sweet, typically 18 to 20 brix,            balanced with some traditional nectarine flavor.        -   Aroma.—Moderate.        -   Eating quality.—Excellent.

STONE

-   Type: Freestone.-   Form: Oval.-   Hilum: Narrow.-   Base: Straight.-   Apex: Obtuse to rounded.-   Sides: Equal.-   Surface: Irregularly furrowed toward the apex, pitted from base to    above center.-   Ridges: Rounded.-   External color: Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr].-   Pit wall color when cracked: Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr].-   Cavity surface color: Dark orange yellow [72. d.OY].-   Average pit wall thickness: ¼″ [6.4 mm.].-   Average width: 1 1/16″ [27.0 mm.].-   Average length: 1 7/16″ [36.5 mm.].-   Average breadth: ⅝″ [15.9 mm.].-   Tendency to split: None observed.-   Kernel:    -   -   Form.—Oval.        -   Skin color.—Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr.].        -   Pellicle color.—Deep yellowish brown [75. Deep y.Br].        -   Vein color.—Deep yellowish brown [75. Deep y.Br].        -   Taste.—Sweet.        -   Viable.—Yes.        -   Average width.— 7/16″ [11.1 mm.].        -   Average length.— 11/16″ [17.5 mm.].        -   Amygdalin.—Moderate.

USE

-   Market: Fresh market and long distance shipping.-   Keeping quality: Good, fruit quality observed to remain in good    condition after 21 days in standard cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2°    Celsius].-   Shipping quality: Good.-   Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.-   Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Other Notes

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially asillustrated and described, that is most similar to ‘Diamond Pearl’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 14,242) nectarine, by producing nectarines that arenearly globose in shape, very firm in texture, white in flesh color, andnearly full red in skin color, but is distinguished therefrom by havingglobose instead of reniform glands, by having a sweet instead of bittertasting kernel, and by producing nectarines that are freestone insteadof clingstone in type.